Tobacco-moistening apparatus



(No'ModeL) L. J. A. LAURIER.

TOBACCO MOISTENING APPARATUS.

'Patent ed Aug Wmasm. \MWM N. PETERS, Phowumc u hnr. wasnin wn, D. C.

LEOIOLD JOSEPH AltTl-IUlt LAURIER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

TOBACCO MOISTENlNG APPARATUS.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,853, dated August 25, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern:

Be it known that I, LnoroLD J'osnrn AR- THUR LAURIER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Paul, county of Ramsey, and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco- Moistening Apparatus, of which the following specification is afull, clear, and exact descrip tion, reference being also had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross sectional view, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View, of a show case with my improvement arranged therein. Fig 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, and Fig. 4. is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View, of a portion of one end of one of the moisture-retaining cases detached.

This invention consists in a moisture-retaining apparatus constructed substantially as herein set forth and placed in the upper part of a show-case or other receptacle for .cigars, 850., whereby the atmosphere within such show-case may be il'npregnated with moisture, as hereinafter shown.

It is found that cigars retain their flavor longer if in a moist condition, which is usually accomplished by confining them in show-eases or other receptacles in which the air is kept charged with moisture; and to impregnate the air in such show-cases and other receptacles more fully with moisture is the object of my invention, which, as before stated, consists in a moisture-retaining apparatus as herein described placed in the upper part of the show-case or other receptacle, it being a well-known principle of natural law that moist air, being heavier than dry air, will descend, while dry air will ascend; hence, if the moisture-producing sub stance be placed at the top of the show-case, the air, as it comes in contact therewith, will be charged with moisture and descend to the bottom, driving the drier air to where it in turn becomes charged with moisture and falls to the bottom of the show-case, thus keeping up a slight circulation of the air and keeping all the air charged with moisture.

Any suitable substance may be used for retaining the moisture, but I have found that common blotting-paper will retain moisture as long or longer than any other substance, retaining it from five to six weeks, and is convenient to use, as well as cheap and easily attainable.

In the drawings I have shown one method of applying my invention, consisting in a coil of blotting-paper, A, within a woven wire cloth casing, B, the ends of the wire-cloth casing being provided with covers 0 O and suspended in the top of a show-case, D.

Beneath the wire cloth casing a sheet-metal trough, E, is arranged, to catch any surplus moisture or water that may drop from the blotting paper in the event ofits being charged too fully with water, thus protecting the goods or cigars from drippings.

The casing containing the blottingpaper will be immersed in water until the blottingpaper has taken up as much moisture as it will hold, and when the surplus water has run off it will be suspended in the show-case,

as shown. Or one of the covers 0 or C may be removed and the water poured upon the paper until it is fully charged.

Any suitable substance that will retain moisture may be used instead of blottingpaper, it being desirable that some substance should be used that will retain the moisture for a long time, and that the casing should be pervious, to allow the moisture to escape, or, rather, to allow the air to enter and become impregnated with the moisture.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is I 1. The combination, with the receptacle for cigars, &c., of a device for impregnating the air in said show-case with moisture, consisting of a casing, B, covers U0 trough E, and a moisture producing and retaining substance, A, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The moistening device for cigar receptacles, consisting of the wire cloth cylinder pro vided at each end with a metallic cap, the metallic trough connecting said caps and the coil of bibulous material carried by said cyl inder, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing \vitnesses.

LEOIOlll) JOSEPH ARTHUR LAURIER.

XVitnesses:

LOUIS Fnnsnn, Jr., HENRY E. RANDALL. 

